MOUAU VC, Prof Iwe, clears air over alleged N5b illegal payments, N578m unremitted IGR

That allegation is pure blackmail designed to smear my reputation. Spending public funds in a university follows strict procedures. No one wakes up and spends money without due process. Doing so amounts to financial misconduct with serious consequences.

The figure mentioned was captured in the university’s 2025 budget. Government issues us an envelope, and based on that, we articulate the needs of the university. It is also important to note that we have not received our 2024 appropriation. The 2025 budget was prepared in 2024, using prevailing market prices at the time.

After budget articulation, the document goes through the Joint Committee on Appropriation of the Ministry of Agriculture, where our capital expenditure is vetted. Thereafter, it passes through internal procurement processes, beginning with the University Procurement Planning Committee (UPPC), which evaluates quotations submitted by contractors.

From there, it proceeds to the University Tenders Board (UTB). If the cost exceeds the university’s approval threshold, it is forwarded to the Ministerial Tenders Board. These are layered checks and balances. Procurement is neither a one-day affair nor a one-man decision.

The 2025 budget passed through all relevant authorities. Spending can only occur when approved funds are released. Those behind the publication clearly lack understanding of public procurement processes.

Ordinarily, such matters should be addressed by the Governing Council. However, for clarity, I will respond briefly.

My administration began in March 2021, when the world was still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. University activities were minimal. It is difficult to imagine how this institution could have generated N578 million IGR in 2021. In 2022, public universities were shut down for about eight months due to industrial action. There was no teaching, farming, or production. So, what was the source of that IGR?

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities has consistently argued that student charges should not be classified as IGR because they are tied to specific services. Requiring universities to remit part of such charges undermines this position.

I believe these allegations were stitched together from unrelated records to falsely implicate my administration. Many of the issues mentioned did not occur under my leadership. The intention is clearly to incite the public against the university and tarnish my image.

I honestly do not know. In the past five years, we have served this university diligently and transparently. We worked hard to improve staff and student conduct and to rebuild interpersonal relationships. There was a time the university struggled to attract partnerships, but today, we are open to the world.

This year, one of our students secured a fully funded scholarship to China. Our staff now publish in high-impact journals and attract major research grants due to the enabling environment we created.

Under our administration, the Energizing Education Project (EEP) delivered a functional solar plant, giving MOUAU 24-hour power supply—a major milestone. Researchers now work round the clock in our laboratories.

No academic programme was lost under my watch; instead, we introduced new and relevant courses such as Food Engineering, Embedded Artificial Intelligence, and Mechatronics. Our laboratories are well equipped.

Recently, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) commended the university, noting that some of our equipment—such as the amino acid analyzer—are not available in any other university in the South-East.

That is completely false. Severance allowances for Vice-Chancellors are handled by the Governing Council, and no such payment was made during my tenure. I did not meet any outstanding severance obligations for my predecessor. Those payments must have occurred before I assumed office. Again, facts were distorted to mislead the public.

What about claims of contracts awarded without execution and abandoned projects? Where are those projects under my administration? I inherited abandoned projects where funds had already been expended. Historically, such issues predated my tenure. The sponsors of these stories deliberately recycled old problems to falsely accuse my administration of financial mismanagement.

I hand such matters over to God. I do not exchange words with liars. There is nothing to gain from it.

I am very conscious of my responsibilities and of reporting to God daily. I did not step on anyone’s toes. If anyone resigned voluntarily and later sought to return, we simply followed government regulations. That is not victimization.

In another case, a staff member behaved erratically, and the appropriate university committee was directed to investigate. She left without official leave. These were administrative decisions, not personal conflicts.

In the past five years, my priority was healing and rebuilding. No issue stayed on my table for more than one night. Promotions that had been stalled for years were cleared. Over 100 litigations inherited by the university were resolved, restoring peace and stability.

My vision was to mobilize the university toward positive thinking, productivity, and progressive programmes, and I believe we achieved that. We expanded the university physically, including the development of the permanent site at Olori. We introduced a biometric data system for students, enabling quick access to accurate records. The Bursary Department has been fully digitalized, reducing human interference and improving transparency. Most issues raised in the audit reports were cases of displaced or misplaced records, not embezzlement. With the digital reforms we introduced, financial and audit reports can now be transmitted directly to the Auditor-General or Accountant-General’s Office.

We also digitalized Senate meetings (e-Senate), saving substantial funds, and resolved long-standing problems with transcript processing. Transcripts are now accessed online.

My worst moment was February 6, 2024, when reforms intended to improve student administration were misunderstood, leading to student protests.

None. I never took unilateral decisions. Every action followed university laws and conditions of service. I relied on my Principal Officers and Deputy Vice-Chancellors for advice. My decisions were collective and lawful.

No. The process is still within the legally approved window—between September 2025 and March 2026. It is entirely the responsibility of the Governing Council.

I intend to rest. I have devoted my life to this university and deserve some time to rest.